Klopp aware of Aubameyang threat ahead of Arsenal clash
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can pose a major threat to his team on Saturday as the Reds take on Arsenal at Anfield. Having worked together at Borussia Dortmund before, Klopp knows the Gabonese international very well and knows how devastating he can be on his day.
Jurgen Klopp’s men moved seven points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table with a 4-0 whitewash of Newcastle at home after the Citizens went down 2-1 to Leicester City.
Both the teams met previously met on the 3rd of November when Alexandre Lacazette rescued a point for the Gunners after James Milner had put the Reds in the lead. And Klopp believes that his team will have to play better than they did on the previous occasion to claim all three points.
Asked how much damage Aubameyang could cause, Klopp said: “A lot. Outstanding player, outstanding person, really funny and nice guy.
“He has the mindset of a proper goalscorer, always relaxed in front of goal. His combination of speed and finishing skills is pretty rare and makes him an exceptional player.
“He’s a threat in the big space and the small space and good at heading as well. It’s a nice package Arsenal bought there, and in combination with Lacazette is really difficult to deal with.
“They combine everything you could wish for with playing with two strikers. Very good combination.”
“[We need to] play much better than we did at Arsenal,” he added. “Defending-wise we were not as good as we can be or as good as we have been since.
“We use the [November] game for analysis, it gave us a lot of important information. Still, it will be difficult.
“Unai Emery likes to change systems a lot, even in games two or three times. That will be pretty interesting.
“They have their own ideas as well. Arsenal against us had 62 per cent possession, and that was mainly because we didn’t defend well up front. They could pass through and it was difficult to get the ball back, then we were not calm enough in our own possession.
“We had the bigger chances, but it was a very difficult game. They are good.
